2nd Half of Busy Weekend

The second half of my busy weekend included my annual Student Christmas Recital.  I invited all my students to my home on Sunday afternoon.  Out of my 29 students 18 were able to attend.  A few were gone already for Christmas and a few had family commitments.  We moved the piano into the living room (which I'm sure Jason is always thrilled about). We started with playing music bingo.  The kids had fun, a couple of them won prizes.  Then we played name that tune with Christmas carols.

Then we had the official part of the recital.  The students played two pieces each.  The order was selected by picking candy canes with their names on them.  Everyone played so well and the students were very respectful and politely listened to each other and clapped.  I won't bore you with a picture of each student, but here's a few.

After all the songs I had a luncheon for them.  I had seen this idea for a sandwich keyboard on someones blog and I knew I just had to make it for my students.  I made ham and cheese sandwiches and cut into the size of a key on a piano and then added small pieces of pumpernickle bread for the black keys.  I had looked for rye bread so it would be darker but I couldn't find any.  I thought it turned out adorable!

I could have made a third keyboard though, the kids ate every last bit of it.  I served the sandwiches, a veggie platter with dill dip, a fruit platter, chips and rice krispie squares.

As a Christmas gift I had made the kids toffees.  I had done this last year and the kids enjoyed them so much and I had several parents comment that I now think I'm stuck carrying on that tradition.  I even had to make a second batch after the Christmas Party on Saturday night so I'd have enough.

It is alot of work to have this recital, but it is totally worth it.  I enjoy seeing my students be proud of the work they are doing and to have a good time together.  I'm so grateful for my musical talents and find it such a priviledge to share my knowledge with others.  Most of all I hope I can instill the love of music to them.  They are a great bunch of kids!

I also received quite the haul of gifts.   I certainly don't expect anything, and it is so thoughtful of them to think of me!

I think my Christmas activities are close to being wrapped up for this year.  It has been a busy December, but I've enjoyed every moment of it.

Ward Christmas Party

Saturday was our Ward Christmas Party.  I had a busy day - watching little Dane, roasting 20 lbs of potatoes for the Party, and starting preparations for my student recital on Sunday.  After Dane was picked up we headed to the church to help get the party ready.  We had a lovely turkey dinner and then a short program. 

I was incharge of the primary nativity.  We started with the nursery children singing "Once There Was a Snowman" - adorable!!  Then we had some of the children dressed as the nativity on the stage with the rest of the primary kids as the chorus.  Two of the older boys read narration from the scriptures of the Christmas Story and the children sang songs.

My family sang "Away in a Manger".  I'm not sure how keen they were but I thought we did a great job.  It was fun to sing with my little family.  I was so proud of them!

We did some carol singing, and I played for our choir to sing two numbers.  Of course, no party would be complete without a visit from Santa.  It was a fun evening and a nice meal.

Cookies & Songs

Bowen's little kindergarten concert was today.  I had volunteered to bring cookies so Bowen and I spent the morning icing the sugar cookies I had made last night.



You'll notice the crumbs on Bowen's face!



So off to Bowen's little concert we went.  They sang a few songs for us and recited a couple of poems.  Bowen was so fun to watch.  He was so excited to have me at the school and knew all the words to the songs and poems.

We then went to the kindergarten room for cookies and juice.  Bowen was so sweet.   He loves school and it is so fun to see him with his little friends.  He loved being able to tell his buddies that he had helped make the cookies they were eating.

Bowen was sure to show me a picture he had done that was hanging out in the hallway.

We had also brought a box of chocolates for his teacher Ms. Clark. I sure love my little boy, and it was so special to spend this time with him today.



Clever Boy

Yesterday Ashton's class at school went on a field trip to the Glenbow Museum.  They had told the kids to leave their backpacks at school as there was not enough room at the Glenbow to store them and they weren't allowed to wear them while looking at the exhibits.  They would have to carry their lunch kits and water bottles.

Well Ashton was having none of that.  He decided he could clip his stuff to his clothes.  His lunch kit has a clip on it so he attached it to the belt loop on his pants.  They he wore his stretchy belt and used his soccer water bottle which has an indent near the top to wrap the belt around.

While other kids were having to hold onto their lunch kits and water bottles - Ashton was hands free all day.  What a clever boy!

Tis the Season

I had planned on having my house completely decorated for Christmas before December this year.  That was the plan - it didn't happen.  I started off good, it wasn't even the end of December and the boys set up their Christmas tree in the family room.  I put on the advent stockings and hung the Santa clothes garland, then the boys put on the rest of the decorations however they wanted.  It is always such a cute little tree and the boys love it.

Getting a decent picture of these two is proving more and more difficult!

It was about two weeks later before I was able to get the rest of the decorations up.  I gave myself a deadline as I wanted it done before I had my VT luncheon on December 9th.  So late for me, but we've been crazy busy - so it is what it is!

I did a few things differently this year - I added class ball ornaments to the top of the hutch.  I think next year I'll get a string of lights to go up there as well.

I changed what I put on the shelf in the dining room - I love how the tins look!



Jason and Ashton surprised me with lights on the staircase.  They were busy decorating while I was teaching.

I think this is my favorite vignette in the house - it's the first thing you see when you walk in!

I love Christmas and the house feels warm and cozy.  Now to finish shopping and baking and I'll be all ready for Christmas!